Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction

Programs in Curriculum and Instruction prepare students to complete advanced degrees by addressing critical issues in learning, teaching, and curriculum, from local to global levels.

The Master of Arts, Education (M.A.) in Curriculum and Instruction is a degree with a focus in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).  TESOL is a term that comprises both TESL, Teaching English as a Second Language, and TEFL, Teaching English as a Foreign Language.  This degree program is offered at the KU Lawrence campus only. The M.A. candidate completes graduate courses both in education and in TESOL. This provides the candidate an opportunity to gain advanced knowledge in education as well as in TESOL.

The M.A./TESOL is a cohort program that starts each fall semester, with required courses to help graduates achieve their goals. Students work with an advisor to choose electives based on individual career goals.  There are three options for completing the M.A. degree: thesis, project, and examination. The thesis and project options each require a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours, culminating in successful defense of a thesis or project. The examination option requires a minimum of 36 graduate credit hours, culminating in successful completion of a comprehensive written examination.

Students who select the thesis or project options must complete at least 20 of the credit hours in regular course work, as contrasted with independent study and similar enrollments.  Students who select the examination option must complete at least 26 credit hours in regular course work, as contrasted with independent study and similar enrollments.

Graduate Admission to the Department of Curriculum and Teaching

In addition to general requirements for admission to graduate study in the School of Education, master’s degree programs in Curriculum and Instruction require completion of an appropriate undergraduate program and, in some instances, a teaching license. Materials describing all Curriculum and Instruction programs may be obtained from the department.

The deadline for the master’s application (domestic and international) is February 1 for consideration of fall admission the same year.

Admission to the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction Program (Domestic Applicants)

The following materials must be submitted:

• A completed domestic online graduate application.
• 1 official transcript of all college records with at least a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.
• 3 letters of recommendation. Each letter should be attached to the online recommendation form when it is submitted by the recommender.
• A statement of career goals.
• A vita or résumé.

Admission to the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction Program (International Applicants)

The following materials must be submitted:

• A completed international online graduate application.
• 2 official transcripts of all undergraduate credit including degree conferral (1 in the original language and 1 in English translation) with at least a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. The transcript must contain the following information:

- Completion of coursework required for degree

- Degree earned and date the degree was conferred; if this is not on the transcript, applicants must also submit a degree certificate and/or diploma

- Official stamp/seal from the school

• 3 letters of recommendation. Each letter should be attached to the online recommendation form when it is submitted by the recommender.

• A statement of career goals.

• A vita or résumé.
• A statement of account balance from the applicant's sponsor's bank. This statement must be on bank stationery. There must also be a letter of support from his/her sponsor if the bank statement is not in the applicant's name.

• For students whose native language is not English, official scores on the TOEFL (IBT) of at least 23 in Listening, Reading and Writing must be submitted for consideration of admission to the Curriculum and Teaching Department. The IELTS (Academic) official score is also accepted, with an overall score of at least 6.5, and scores of at least 6.0 in Listening, Reading and Writing. The PTE (Academic) official score is also accepted, with an overall score of at least 60 and scores of at least 55 in Listening, Reading and Writing. The TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores must be less than two years old at the time of admission. TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores may not be required if applicant meets the verification of English proficiency requirements as specified below:

Applicants who have earned a baccalaureate degree (or higher) in residence from an accredited university or from a foreign university which conducts all instruction in English and which maintains substantially equivalent bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree requirements, will be considered fully proficient and will not be required to complete AEC testing or coursework. ​​Degrees earned online may not be used to verify English proficiency.

Please note: Meeting minimum admission standards does not guarantee admission to the program.

All application materials should be submitted online with the graduate application.  If there are application materials that cannot be uploaded with the online application, they may be emailed or mailed to the department:

The University of Kansas
Department of Curriculum and Teaching
Joseph R. Pearson Hall
1122 W. Campus Road, Room 321
Lawrence, KS 66045

Contact us: ctdepartment@ku.edu